I *might* have the chance to relocate to the states for a couple of years at the end of 2005 but the more I think about this the more questions come to mind. I was wondering if any of you good folk had done something similar and could comment on a few issues for me?

1) What are the chances of a UK chap being able to work in the US atm?

2) I own a house here the UK that I'd rather hold on to, anyone have any experience with rent management companies?

3) How long could I stay in the US before having to return to blighty?

4) Anyone know any companies round Sacramento way that might take a Javaery type from the UK? Do Sun have a base there at all? Gis a job guvnor!

I applied for a job @ Sun in the States last year! But I didn't even get a rejection letter.

You probably got tarred with the same brush I am whenever I come to the UK (from NZ). Recruiters (and I assume HR departments as well) are never interested in talking to someone unless they're in the country. Doesn't matter how long I've worked over there, nor how good my CV is, they only start replying to emails after I step of the boat (figuratively speaking).

I'd look at the local paper and jobs section for the area before you arrive. That might give you a good idea of what is or isn't around in that area.

I've got a friend who was from Switzerland and stayed here as a student. He was going to get sponsored by the company he worked for, which would allow him to stay in the US until he got his citizenship.

I can pass you his email if you'd like to talk to him about how working in the US as a foreign citizen works.

As for the ethnic diversity of So Cal..... Well, that is all too common from an Americans Since Kev is coming from the UK I doubt that's going to be an issue as they've been living in that sort of highly diversified environment for decades. In fact, when I moved over here to the Seattle from Oz, I was surprised at the lack of cultural diversity. The opinions like those expressed above are, unfortunately, rather typical for this part of the world. - even in such a diversified place like Seattle with all the high-tech imports here.

As for getting a job. It's going to be close to impossible for you. Firstly you have to get a H-1B to be able to work. Even if you're coming over on an academic visa, you won't be able to work for any other company unless you also have a H-1B. Considering that the 04-05 quota is already completely filled, you'll have a very tough time getting hold of that visa.

As for rent managment with a foreign house, I've had no problem with it. I own a house still in Oz that I rent out. So long as you have a decent long-term tenant there, and a decent rental agency to worth with, it's almost set-and-forget territory. If you want your house to be in one piece when you get back, insist that you get long-term contracted tenants in (ie 12months plus).

Length of time here before requiring to return is 6 months on a tourist visa-waiver program. However, if you want to get paid at all, you're screwed. You must be on a proper working visa of the appropriate type. If you're going to be doing research at UC Davis then get hold of an academic visa. They're a hell of a lot easier to get so long as you have the university back up your claim - that is, you pretty much have to have it in hand before you get here.

If you're not sure what is going on, then come over on a tourist waiver for a "holiday" and make sure that's what you tell the INS people when you get off the plane. Don't tell them that you're looking for a job or anything remotely like that. They'll have you rejected and on the plane back before you can blink. Wander in and chat with the uni and see if the position is a goer. If it is, get the uni to line up the paperwork and then go hit up INS for an academic visa while in-country. You'll get all sorts of waivers to stay here while they process the paperwork, and it's likely the uni will have a legal department that can take care of it pretty easily for you. After all, they have a fairly large foreign-student program that they deal with all the time, so they know what they're doing.

Whoa! Thanks for all the usefull info. Actually its my Wife who'd be getting the academic visa. It might not even be needed for me to get a job but I'd kinda like to do be doing something. The other option might just to be working on "hobby" of games programming until I get back and release 2 years worth of work

Not quite sure what the implication of not working but wanting to stay in the US for 2 years would be tho?

It might not even be needed for me to get a job but I'd kinda like to do be doing something. The other option might just to be working on "hobby" of games programming until I get back and release 2 years worth of work :)

Great chance: use these two years to make one or more great independent Java games. This would be an ideal start and when returning to good old Europe you could go full time game developing on a solid base. :-)

Beside that I'm sure your cats would love it, too: to have a full time Kevin - "Home Alone". ;-)

I had a couple of days to kill in San Diego last summer on a business trip. I took the "San Diego City Tour" coach tour, and it was fun and gave me a good feel for the geography of the place. The next day I went to the zoo and Balboa Park: a very relaxing day out.

One pleasant surprise was the "Upstart Crow" bookstore/café in Seaport Village (which is otherwise 100% tourist shops and restaurants).

Well, really the Davis-Sacramento area is not that bad in terms of cost of living. You're in the sticks by the time you reach Vallejo, and anything further from the Bay Area isn't going to as expensive as Berkeley or the city. However, there is also not much going on out there. I agree, Socal is crap, but so is the central valley. Make sure you get out to the real Bay Area once in a while.

In San Diego, you must check out the San Diego Zoo. It is world-class and has some very cool animals there. The beaches are great of course and making the little trip to Tijuana is fun.

As for San Francisco, it is the best city in the world. I've lived in the Bay Area for decades and I still haven't experienced everything there is to do there. You should check out the ultra-touristy Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39 for good seafood. You should try to get on one of the small tour boats there that sail under the Golden Gate bridge and around Alcatraz. If you have money to blow, Union Square (or anywhere in the financial district, really) has some nice restaurants and shops. If you're the theatre-going type, the main theatres that show Broadway stuff are the Orpheum, Curran, and Golden Gate. However, you should also check out ACT (American Conservatory Theater) on Geary St, which has great (and cheaper) shows. The War Memorial Opera House is something you should see, too. Definitely visit Height-Ashbury (or Berkeley's Telegraph Ave for that matter) and North Beach (for some really good Italian food). There are plenty of dance/comedy/strip clubs around the downtown area if that's you're thing. I would also recommend going up to Twin Peaks for a great view of the city. Arrggh, there is so much more I could talk about, but I'll give it a rest.

Sacramento...well, um, I guess you could check out the capital, but not really much going on (to be fair, I've never been there).

If you're into trains, Sacramento has the California State Railroad Museum - depending the time of year they also have steam train rides on the weekends. I used to live about an hour south of there, and my kids were/are train nuts.

Not sure of much else to do there - there is a Fry's somewhere in Sacramento (Fry's is a large everything-computing/electronics-under-one-roof kind of place that is a Silicon Valley landmark), but I've never been to it so I can't compare it to the SF Bay-area stores.

Forgot to mention about San Diego - Balboa Park has a series of museums - I liked it for the aviation museum (but I think they have a Natural History, IMAX theater, etc. also). It's been about 12 years since I've been there.

The beaches are beautiful there, but don't know what the water temp is this time of year (I've only been in the summertime).

Well, I can honestly say that San Diego is the most relaxed and coolest place I've ever been! And the Zoo was immense! Also took the city tour (although I feel like I've walked most of it now ) which was pretty damn cool. Thanks for the tips guys,

Off to San Fran then drive to Sacramento next (stay off the roads ). Looks like the relocation is even more likely now, so anyone that can find a poor Java programmer a job in SF area let me know!

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